Overshoe



April 2s, 1942. F. vF. oLsoN ETA.. 2,281,31

oVERsHoE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 Patented pr. 28, 1942 f n ir stars OVERSHOEApplication August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,562

(Cl. :Z6-7.3)

Frederick F. Olson,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to overshoes of waterproof and elastic rubbermaterial lined as with y textile material for the purposes ofreinforcing and protecting the rubber and helping to maintain the shapeof the shoe and also for the sake of comfort to the wearer. Unlinedovershoes have been found objectionable to some wearers as giving a coldfeeling and in some cases being subject to snagging and other injury.

Lined overshoes have been naturallylimited in stretchability which hasusually required the provision of an enlarged top opening to make itpossible to slip the overshoe over the shoe, and this in turn hascomplicated the problem of preventing the overshoe from slipping off theshoe too easily. The prior overshoes, in order to resist slippage fromthe heel of the shoe have usually had stiffening means built into theovershoe, such as a stiff quarter section adapted to snap upward intoposition after depression of it as the shoe enters the overshoe.Occasionally it has been necessary to apply a cementitious substance tothe face of the overshoe lining contacting the back or counter of theshoe in an endeavor to overcome the insuicient ability of the overshoeto cling to the back of the shoe.

An object of this invention is to provide a lined overshoe with meansfor permitting easy donnin-g .and doiiing together with a close clingingfit of the heel portion of the overshoe upon the back of the shoe.Further objects are to provide these results substantially withoutaltering the appearance of the overshoe, and to provide for reducing theweight of the overshoe without sacrilice of its protective qualities.These vand further objects will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an overshoe constructed in accordance withand embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2 2 ci' Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

In the drawing the invention is illustrated as applied to a mansovershoe, but it will -be understood that the invention is applicable toovershoes of other types and constructions.

An upper I0 has a lining I I of textile material .and an outer layer ofelastic rubber material I2.

The overshoe may have a trimming strip I3 of elastic rubber around itstop opening and a reinforced sole, shank and heel piece I4 includingsuitable heel-bottom stiffening means I5 and an insole I6.

The outer rubber layer I2 extends continuously around the heel sectionof the overshoe, but in accordance with the invention the lining IIterminates short of the rearmost portion of the heel section in marginsI1, I1 so spaced apart as to permit considerable stretchability of theheel section of the overshoe between such margins. Preferably themargins Il, I1 are disposed approximately at the forward portion of theheel section so as to make all or a large part of the heel section ofthe overshoe stretchable. To the end of providing the desired rmness ofthe heel section without restricting unduly its stretchability a piece I8 of rubber material may `be disposed in the space between the marginsI1, Il of the lining and preferably overlapping such margins in iirmadhesive attachment to the shoe, the rubber piece I8 serving to obviatethe necessity for the usual quarter stiffener used in overshoes.

For further stiiening the heel section of the overshoe upper withoutobjectionably reducing the stretchability thereof another piece offabric I9 serving as a collar piece may be applied with an outer layer2B of rubber, this fabric piece being of stretchable netting andextending only partly over the area of the heel section of the overshoe,the margin of such fabric terminating at ZI.

By the construction of this invention a lined overshoe is made possiblewherein the opening can be as small or smaller than the correspondingpart of the shoe of the wearer, it being unnecessary to provide thelooseness heretofore necessary in overshoes of this class for makingdonning and doilng possible. Merely pulling back or widening the heelsection of the overshoe by stretching it makes donning and doingconvenient. Also when the overshoe is in place the elasticity of theheel section provides a capacity of such section to cling to the shoe ofthe wearer, effectively resisting removal. If desired, this clingingfunction may be enhanced by providing a roughened or knurled innersurface on the rubber piece I8, as shown at 22.

In outward appearance, and in ruggedness and rmness of the construction,the overshoe resem- ,bles the stilTer less elastic constructions usedheretofore, and at the same time the advantages provided by the improvedconstruction of the heel section as hereinabove discussed are available.

Variations may be made Without departing ward part of the shoe oversaidgheel-receiving 10 portion, a fabric lining secured to the innerface of said outer layer forward of the heel portion of the upper andterminating at the heel .portion with the edges of said lining extendingupward from the bottom of the heel-receiving portion at each sidethereof, the heel portion of the upper having a stiening layer spacedrearwardly of said edges of the lining and connected to said lining byan extent of said elastic outer layer Aproviding stretchability of theheel-receiving portion for donning and doiiing the overshoe.

FREDERICK F. OLSON. LESLIE H. L'HOLLIER.

